Saudi Arabia launches first edition of Women's Football League

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation launched on Saturday the first edition of the Saudi Women’s Football League.

The league, which will start on Nov.22, will be held in two phases through the Regional League in its first phase, with the participation of 16 teams, and its matches will be held in 3 cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam) with the presence of 6 teams from each region (except for Dammam, four teams) to play in the league system From two rounds, the top three places in Riyadh and Jeddah and the first and second places in Dammam will qualify for the Kingdom Final Championship to be held early next year in Jeddah at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, which will be held in a one-match knockout system.

The President of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Yasser Al Misehal, indicated that this announcement is an important moment in the career of the SAFF. He pointed out that the launch of the first official league in the Kingdom was one of the SAFF's goals when inaugurating a special department for women’s football.

"Today we live in this moment, which has been achieved by the grace of God and then the unlimited support of our wise leadership for all sectors, particularly in the football sector," Al Misehal said

Al Misehal explained that all the rules and regulations for the league have been completed, stressing the federation's keenness to implement them due to the importance of this edition in the path of Saudi women's football.

The member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Director of the Women's Football Department, Lamia bin Bahian, extended her thanks and gratitude to the wise leadership for the unlimited support and attention that women's football enjoys.

Bin Bahian said: “The moment we are living in today cannot be described by the transformation of the dream of the Saudi Women’s League into a reality, We enjoy unlimited support from our wise leadership, and in light of this support, we are proceeding today at a steady pace according to an ambitious strategy in which we all share passion, ambition and determination to advance women’s football and reach it to the highest levels”.

She added: "We have worked since the first day in the Women's Football Department, which began under the supervision of Adwaa Al-Arifi, who made a great and influential effort to complete the step of forming the first women's league in particular, and support women's football in general".

It is worth noting that the 16 participating clubs from the three regions are: Al-Tahadi, Sama, Al-Himma, Al-Seham Al-Zarqa and Al-Yamamah (The middle region) - Al-Asefah, Nosour Jeddah, Ittihad Al-Quwa, Al-Kora Al-Moshtaela and Al-Leith Al-Abyad (Western region) - Shoulla Al-Sharqiah, Al-Mamlaka Al-Nisa’e, Al-Waha and Ittihad Al-Nosour (Eastern region).